Some general theorems and generalized and piecewise generalized variational principles for linear elastodynamics

From the concept of four-dimensional space and under the four kinds of time limit conditions, some general theorems for elastodynamics are developed, such as the principle of possible work action, the virtual displacement principle, the virtual stress-momentum principle, the reciprocal theorems and the related theorems of time terminal conditions derived from it. The variational principles of potential energy action and complementary energy action, the H-W principles, the H-R principles and the constitutive variational principles for elastodynamics are obtained. Hamilton's principle, Toupin's work and the formulations of Ref. [5], [17]-[24] may be regarded as some special cases of the general principles given in the paper. By considering three cases: piecewise space-time domain, piecewise space domain, piecewise time domain, the piecewise variational principles including the potential, the complementary and the mixed energy action fashions are given. Finally, the general formulation of piecewise variational principles is derived. If the time dimension is not considered, the formulations obtained in the paper will become the corresponding ones for elastostatics.